Zab Judah warns Amir Khan that his lack of experience and maturity will be his downfall in world title fight

Zab Judah has warned Amir Khan that his lack of experience and maturity could
be his downfall in Saturday’s fight for the International Boxing Federation
and World Boxing Association light-welterweight titles.

Warning: Zab Judah has warned Amir Khan that his lack of experience and maturity will be his downfall in the pair's world title fightPhoto: REUTERS

The counter argument from Freddie Roach, Khan’s trainer, is that his charge is “too young and has too much speed” and will take the spoils. Victory in the right manner, insisted Roach, will transform Khan into a box office fighter in the United States.

It is a crossroads fight for both men. Judah could become a trophy on Khan’s burgeoning record should he triumph, but should he fail to match the man in the opposing corner who has won five world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, in a decade at the top level, he will slide back into a rebuilding process, with question marks about his ability at the top level.

For Judah, it would mean another major payday in a career in which he has fallen in his greatest challenges — notably against Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto, at welterweight, and Kostya Tszyu, his only loss at light-welterweight.

“Forget this stuff about me being an old fighter,” said Judah, 33. “I turned professional at 18, I was a world champion at 20 years old, but look out there. The best fighters around are Sergio Martinez, Floyd Mayweather, who are both older than me, and Bernard Hopkins, who’s still a world champion at 46.

“I got my second wind. I used to be a tough guy, a bully, but that doesn’t pay. I grew up in a tough environment I became a product of Brownsville, Brooklyn. But I’ll give you the best Zab Judah in this fight. Beware of experience, Amir Khan.”

It remains a fascinating match-up pitching Khan, still developing but with great hand speed, against a seasoned, top-level southpaw fighter with a dangerous left hand and canny footwork.

Roach believes Judah will use movement and his jab to try to dictate the contest. Thus, Khan’s challenge will be to nullify the jab, and dictate the rhythm and boss the early pace of the fight. Momentum could be the key.

“Amir can’t be too aggressive, too early because of Zab’s one punch knockout power with the left,” Roach told The Daily Telegraph. “The dangers lie in his left hook or even his straight left.” Khan will need to circle right staying outside Judah’s southpaw stance, creating angles from which to attack.

“This is a new stage in Amir’s career, he’s up against a multiple world champion, and if he comes through it, it will really put him on the map in America. This is his stand,” added Roach.

Khan said: “We’ve prepared thoroughly, I’m excited now to get in there. This is in my blood. I’m a warrior. They say I can’t take a punch, that I’m chinny. In fact, we have both been accused of that. But we’re both exciting, fast fighters, and when the bell goes, it will be a spectacle. I want to fight, and entertain.”

Ten weeks of intense training have carried Khan to this point. Alex Ariza, who oversees the strength and conditioning regime for both Khan and Filipino great Manny Pacquiao at trainer Roach’s Wild Card Gym, in Hollywood.

Ariza said that Khan’s demeanour belies a fighter with “a killer instinct”.

“Khan is a very special athlete and right now he is ahead of the curve compared to where Pacquaio was at the same age. They are both nice guys, but there is a switch in both their personalities which goes from nice guy to having this 'killer instinct’. It’s what champions are made of. It’s almost genetic with the pair of them.”

Khan has been honed by Ariza over eight weeks of 5am training sessions designed to test his mental toughness. “When he’s walking to the ring, if any doubt crosses his mind, he can think back to those 5am sessions – swimming in cold pools, sprinting on the track, running in the Hollywood hills, driving himself up and down 200 stairs half a mile long on a hill above Santa Monica beach, running the sand dunes,” explained Ariza. “ 'Train Hard, Fight Easy’ — that’s our motto.”

If Khan can stick to the strategy, outwork Judah early and not get caught, he has the opportunity tonight not just to conquer Judah, but America with it, with a late stoppage victory in the Mojave desert of dreams.

Amir Khan v Zab Judah will be screened live on Primetime PPV (Channel 480 on Sky) and Virgin On Demand for £14.95. To order, please call 0871 200 4444 or visit www.primetimelive.co.uk